 |
|
|
• CBS 2 TOP STORIES VIDEO
The pain of Iowas budget cuts is being spread around tonight. Governor Culver is finalizing that 10 percent cut to handle the 2010 budget crisis, and nearly everyone is going to help out.
The Governor is calling for thousands of state employees to take unpaid leave; more than 3,000 non-contract employees in the executive branch will have to take 7 days of unpaid leave.
Today Mr. Culver approved the budget cutting plans for 28 departments, with another six departments that will be approved after some changes. He rejected the plans by the Departments of Public Safety and Corrections because of the impact of proposed layoffs.
Two departments may go back to work on plans for the 10 percent cuts.
"There is a painful reality to our situation, Culver said.
The Department of Corrections had proposed laying off more than 500 workers. The initial proposal for Corrections was hard to take for many that work in Iowas prisons.
Am I concerned about an impact if something like this were to play out? Obviously, Im concerned about that," John Fayram said last week, the Warden at the Anamosa Penitentiary.
The Department of Public Safety was also going to take a big hit under the first plan and stood to lose about 20 state troopers. The Governor says he's hopeful many of the jobs in both departments can be saved.
"Our goal is to do everything we can to prevent layoffs related to essential public safety," Culver said.
That means asking three unions to open up negotiations on contracts.
"The idea of laying off 20 troopers is not something I want to do. The idea of laying off hundreds of correctional officers is really not an option," Culver said.
The unions have a week and a half to decide if renegotiating makes sense. Otherwise the Governor says the layoffs will happen.
"The last thing we want to do is layoff more people, Culver said. "The bottom line is, we're going to cut $565 million one way or another."
That could mean employees will sit in limbo as they wait to see what happens.
We just want people to know that we don't want to lose any staff, we're concerned about our staff and their anxiety levels, Fayram said.
The Governor is calling for thousands of state employees to take unpaid leave; more than 3,000 non-contract employees in the executive branch will have to take 7 days of unpaid leave.
Today Mr. Culver approved the budget cutting plans for 28 departments, with another six departments that will be approved after some changes. He rejected the plans by the Departments of Public Safety and Corrections because of the impact of proposed layoffs.
Two departments may go back to work on plans for the 10 percent cuts.
"There is a painful reality to our situation, Culver said.
The Department of Corrections had proposed laying off more than 500 workers. The initial proposal for Corrections was hard to take for many that work in Iowas prisons.
Am I concerned about an impact if something like this were to play out? Obviously, Im concerned about that," John Fayram said last week, the Warden at the Anamosa Penitentiary.
The Department of Public Safety was also going to take a big hit under the first plan and stood to lose about 20 state troopers. The Governor says he's hopeful many of the jobs in both departments can be saved.
"Our goal is to do everything we can to prevent layoffs related to essential public safety," Culver said.
That means asking three unions to open up negotiations on contracts.
"The idea of laying off 20 troopers is not something I want to do. The idea of laying off hundreds of correctional officers is really not an option," Culver said.
The unions have a week and a half to decide if renegotiating makes sense. Otherwise the Governor says the layoffs will happen.
"The last thing we want to do is layoff more people, Culver said. "The bottom line is, we're going to cut $565 million one way or another."
That could mean employees will sit in limbo as they wait to see what happens.
We just want people to know that we don't want to lose any staff, we're concerned about our staff and their anxiety levels, Fayram said.
• CBS 2 LOCAL NEWS
Inmates assaulted officers at prison facility
November 20, 2009 17:36 EST
CORALVILLE, Iowa (AP) -- The Iowa Department of Corrections is investigating a pair of assaults on officers at its Oakdale Medical and Classification Center near Coralville.
The department reported Friday that the attacks took place on Nov. 15 and are also being investigated by the Coralville Police Department.
Officials say that in one assault, 22-year-old convicted kidnapper and robber Earl Griffin punched a guard in the shoulder and face, harming the guard's teeth and blacking both of his eyes. The attack occurred shortly after Griffin had received his medication in the facility's pill line.
The department says that a short time later, 18-year-old convicted murderer Damion Seats punched another officer in the face and neck.
Both Griffin and Seats have since been transferred to the Iowa State Penitentiary.
• VIDEO LIST
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
• BUSINESS NEWS
Stocks fall for 3rd day as dollar strengthens
NEW YORK (AP) -- The stock market is losing ground for a third straight day as investors grow uneasy about a rising dollar and spiking demand for the safest government debt.
• CONSUMER INFO
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
• SCIENCE/TECH NEWS
IN THE NEWS: GOOGLE TO PROVIDE CAPTIONING FOR YOUTUBE
WASHINGTON (AP) -- "Closed captioning of this YouTube video provided by ...
• GET THIS
MYSTERIOUS DECORATIONS
HERSCHER, Ill. (AP) -- This isn't a case of breaking and entering -- more like breaking and decorating.
